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ThesisItem Open Access Immune response of cattle to Boophilus annulatus (Acari : Ixodoidea)(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Sreekrishnan, R; KAU; Rajamohanan, KA study was undertaken to assess the nature and degree of development of acquired resistance in calves against the cattle tick Boophilus annulatus. Observations were made mainly on the development of natural resistance against repeat infestations and the effect of artificial immunization using the tick antigen. Tissue reactions induced by the ticks at the site of bite were also studied. The results indicated the development of resistance in the host, which was gradual and varying in degrees. Immunodiffusion test failed to reveal the presence of tick antibodies in the sera of calves after repeated infestations, indicating that easily demonstrable quantities of antibodies are not developed even after repeated infestations. The cellular reactions at the site of tick – bite revealed the development of a resistant reaction at the site of bite. Studies made on artificial immunization using the whole – tick extract gave varying results. However, the immunodiffusion test using sera of immunized calves revealed that there is a steady maintenance of antibody level throughout the infestation period. Thus, the results obtained in the present study indicate that antibodies are developed against the tick Boophilus annulatus in calves on natural infestations and using the tick antigen, and that there is a clear possibility of immunizing calves against B. annulatus artificially.ThesisItem Open Access Intertransmissibility of the common nematode parasites of pigeon (Columbolivio domestico) and domestic fowl (Gollus gollus domesticus)(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1996) Senthilvel, K; KAU; Madhavan Pillai, KAn investigation was made on the prevalence of nematode infections in pigeons for a period of one year by faecal and postmortem examinations and the percentage prevalence was 35.24 and 46.74 respectively. The species of nematodes collected from pigeons were Ascaridia columbae, Capillaria obsignata, Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus, Acuaria spiralis and Strongyloides avium. Capillaria obsignata had the highest prevalence. The development of egg and the time taken to reach the infective stage in egg cultures of Ascaridia galli, Heterakis gallinae, Syngamus trachea, Ascaridia columbae, Capillaria obsignata and Ornithostrongylus quadriradiatus maintained at different room temperature were studied and recorded. The cross transmission trials with fowl nematodes; A. galli, H. gallinae and S. trachea and pigeon nematodes; A. columbae, C. obsignata and 0. quadriradiatus were conducted in pigeons and chicks respectively. Syngamus trachea and C. obsignata were found to be transmissible between pigeons and chicks. The detailed life cycles of A. columbae, S. trachea and 0. quadriradiatus in pigeons were worked out in detail. The prepatent period for these species was 46, 28 and 7 days respectively. The infective larvae of 0. quadriradiatus were seen to be phototropic and hydrotactic. They remained viable for 47 to 52 and 60 to 67 days in dry and wet seasons respectively. The clinical signs, gross and histopathological lesions produced by the nematodes in pigeons were recorded. Moderate infections of O. quadriradiatus produced anaemic changes in pigeons.ThesisItem Open Access Pathogenesis and treatment of immature Ascaridia galli infection in experimentally infected chicken(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Padmaja, P B; KAU; Sathianesan, VIn a study conducted on the pathogenesis and treatment of Ascaridia galli in experimentally infected chicken at different developmental stages of the worm, it had been found that droopiness, whitish diarrhoea, marked reduction in body weight gain, haemorrhage and congestion at different parts of the intestinal mucosa and frothy or blood tinged intestinal contents were the main clinico pathological changes. Histopathological observations in the small intestine were signs of enteritis, jcatarrhalj changes, villar proliferation, desquamation of sub epithelium and villar tips and mild congestion and haemorrhage. A tissue phase was observed in the life-cycle of the nematode at 20th day post infection indicated by the presence of cut sections of the larvae-in the mucosal and submucosal regions. Haematologically, a decrease in the total erythrocyte count, an initial leucopenia followed by leucocytosis, reduction in packed cell volume and percentage of haemoglobin, an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, percentage of heterophils, eosinophils, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin values and a reduction in the percentage of lymphocytes, monocytes and "mean corpuscular .haemoglobin concentration and an initial basopenia followed by basophilia were observed in infected chicks. For treatment, out of the four anthelmintics tried, namely piperazine hydrate, albendazole, morantel citrate and ivermectin against the infection, albendazole at 50 mg/kg body weight was found to be the most effective, closely followed by morantel citrate at 50 mg/kg body weight and then piperazine hydrate at 500 rag/kg ' body weight. I I Ivermectin at 1 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously was found to be the least effective. The present study with morantel citrate appeared to be the first of its kind as far as it's use against ascairidiasis in poultry was concernedThesisItem Open Access Effect of anthelmintic treatment on milk production in subclinical nematode infections of cows(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1994) Rajasekharan, Nair K G; KAU; Rajmohan, KA study was conducted on the incidence of subclinical gastrointestinal namatodiasis in diary cows and heifers, and the effect of anthelmintic treatment on their milk production. It was found that all the animals examined in the two livestock farms of Kerala Agricultural University were harbouring the infection. Faecal culture was found to be the method of choice for detection of nematode infection when compared to microscopical examination of faeces.ThesisItem Open Access Pathogenicity of Ascaridia Galli infection in broiler chicken with special reference to weight gain(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Arunachalam, K; KAU; George, Varghese CA study carried out to assess the pathogenic effect of the developmewntal stages of Ascaridia galli in broiler chicks for a period of eight weeks, revealed clinical signs like general weakness, unthriftiness, ruffled feathers and loss of appetite, besides the delayed development of comb, wattles and feathers. On post – mortem examination of the experimentally infected chicks, large numbers of larvae were recovered from 2nd day PI onwards and the lumen larvae were detected from 14th day PI. The intestinal contents were frothy, mucus mixed and had many immature worms. In the small intestine the worms embedded in the mucosa with their anterior extremities. Histopathological studies revealed disruption of villi, desquamation of epithelium, infiltration with monocular cells, focal necrosis, congestion and haemorrhage in the mucosa and cystic changes of mucosal glands. Sections of larvae in the mucosa at different histological locations were detected on 4th, 10th, 14th and 17th days PI. In addition, cut sections of degenerated larvae were also observed. Haematological studies indicated a statistically significant increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total leucocyte count, total heterophil and eosinophil counts. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin content and total erythrocyte count were significantly decreased. Lymphocyte count was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in all the infected groups upto 37th day PI; later the count was gradually increased in all the infected groups. The mean body weight and mean body weight gain in the infected groups of chicks were significantly lesser than the control group chicks (P <0.01). The mean weekly feed intake and mean weekly feed conversion ratio were lesser in the infected groups of chicks than control ones, although the difference was not statistically significant. The morbidity rate was high in all the infected chicks, but mortality was not recorded during the experimental period. Coprological study confirmed the maturation period for A. galli in groups A, B, C and D as 59, 59,50 and 44 days respectively.ThesisItem Open Access Assessment of paratenic hosts in the transmission of Ancylostoma caninum to dogs(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Deena Antony, U; KAU; George Vargese, CAn investigation into the “Assessment of paratenic hosts in the transmission of Ancylostoma caninum to dogs” was carried out during the period from October 1996 to September 1997. The experimental animals comprised of 24 day old chicks, 15 one month old albino mice, 60 cockroaches collected locally and 10 pups of 6 to 8 weeks old. Larvae obtained from faecal cultures set in room temperature were used for infecting paratemic hosts. The migration and distribution of A. caninum larvae in the tissues of chicks infected orally with 1000 larvae were studied. Larval yield at necropsy from different organs after digestion with artificial gastric juice revealed a 50.1 per cent recovery at 4hr after inoculation followed by a sharp decline to 4.5 percent at 72hr. Larvae were detected in the lungs and liver at the rate of 67 and 63 respectively. The gastro intestinal tract yielded the maximum number of larvae (215) at 4hr after infection. Migration in the muscles of neck and thorax was detected at 12 hr after infection. But no larvae were recovered from heart, spleen and kidney. Migration and distribution of A.caninum larvae in the tissues of mice orally infected with 1000 larvae and the establishment of patent infection from mice to definite host were studied. Highest larval recovery was at 4 hr post infection (48.6%) and lowest was (13.6%) at 30 days post infection. Migration of larvae to the liver and lungs occurred within 24 hr. No larvae were recovered from spleen, kidney and heart. Migration in the muscles of throax and head and neck occurred within 4 days. In the infected cockroaches, living larvae were found in the muscles, wall and lumen of the gut region and haemocele. Histopathological lesions included mild disruption of the villi with mild infilteration of the inflammatory cells in the intestine, areas of congestion, haemorrhage and necrosis were noticed in the liver and lungs with sections of larvae found rupturing the wall of the alveoli. Patent infection was established in hookworm free pups . Infected with larvae, recovered from infected chicks, mice and cockroaches and the pre-patent period was found to be 18 to 19 days. The present observation established that chicken, mice and insects like cockroaches might act as paratenic hosts for A.caninum, thus serving as natural sources of infection to pups.ThesisItem Open Access Immunodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis in goats(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Syamala, K; KAU; Devada, KA serological survey was carried out on the prevalence of caprine toxoplasmosis in Kerala, by two simple and sensitive serological tests-modified agglutination test (MAT) and carbon immuno assay (CIA). A total of 152 goat sera were collected from the Government Goat Farms, Attappady and Kommeri, Kerala Agricultural University Goat Farm, Mannuthy and from the slaughter houses at Trichur and Ernakulam. The MAT carried out for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies revealed 53.29 per cent as seropositive while CIA revealed 44.07 per cent. A higher prevalence was detected among does than in bucks. A remarkable age-wise prevalence was not observed in this study. Eventhough a higher prevalence was noticed in Malabari breeds, as the number of goats in each breed was too uneven, a breed-wise prevalence could not be ascertained. Area-wise, a higher prevalence was noticed in goats that belonged to Kannur district, both by MAT and CIA. Modified agglutination test was a sensitive and specific test for the serological surveys on caprine toxoplasmosis, while CIA was a cost effective and simple test which could be made use of under our field conditions. The methods of maintenance and propagation of T. gondii RH strain in mice in the laboratory were standardised and it was found that a dose of 0.30 ml of '+++' infective fluid given intraperitoneally was sufficient for propagation of the strain in mice in the laboratory. White mice experimentally inoculated subcutaneously and intraperitoneally, exhibited similar symptoms like huddling in one corner, anorexia, rough hair coat, respiratory distress and ascites. The intracerebrally inoculated mice showed epileptic symptoms and blindness. Haemorrhage and congestion of lungs, catarrhal inflammation of stomach and intestine and necrosis of liver were the main gross lesions noticed in the acutely infected mice. Alveolar and interstitial pneumonia coagulative necrosis of liver, destruction of tubular and glomerular epithelium of kidney, necrosis of spleen and destruction of cardiac musculature were the prominent microscopic changes observed. Infection in mice by bioassay with acid pepsin digested visceral organs of acutely infected mice was successful. This indicated that T. gondii tachyzoites could survive acid pepsin for 75 min, as the tissues utilised for bioassay carried only Toxoplasma tachyzoites. Studies on the sensitivity of T. gondii tachyzoites to heat revealed that they could be killed by incubating at 56°C for 30 min or boiling at 100°C for five minutes. The method of cultivation of T. gondii tachyzoites in duck embryos by the chorioallantoic membrane route was successful resulting in yellowish white pock lesions on CAM, with congestion and haemorrhage on embryos and brain. A successful cryopreservation of T. gondii using tris-glycerol as cryoprotectant for 145 days at -20°C and for 250 days at -56°C was achieved.ThesisItem Open Access Prevalence clinical pathology and treatment of microfilariasis in dogs in Thrissur(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Radhika, R; Radhika, R; KAU; KAU; Subramanian, H; Subramanian, HIn a detailed study conducted on prevalence, clinical pathology and treatment of microfilariasis in dogs in Thrissur, it has been found that canine microfilariasis is prevalent throughout the year with more incidence during \ summer. The most reliable and accurate diagnostic method for detecting microfilariae, was noted to be the Modified Knott's Technique while wet film examination was more useful for preliminary screening. Microfilariae encountered were identified as those of Dirofilaria repens. The affected dogs revealed haematological changes like increase in ESR, TLC, eosinophils as well as lymphocytes and decrease in Hb, TEC, PCV as also neutrophils. Biochemical studies revealed increase in Serum Total Protein, Globulin, AST, ALT, BUN as well as Serum Urea in microfilaraemic dogs and higher levels of Albumin, Albumin/Globulin ratio in non-microfilaraemic dogs. Single oral dose of Milbemycin oxime at 0.5 mg/kg b.w. was found to be the most effective drug for microfilariasis, followed by single s/c dose of Ivermectin at 200 mg/kg b.w. and 7 consecutive daily s/c dose of levamisole at 7.5 mg/kg.ThesisItem Open Access Prevalence, clinico-pathology and control of coccidiosis in broiler chicken(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Gigi George, A; KAU; Lucy SabuAn investigation was carried out with an objective to findout the prevalence, clinicopathology and control of coccidiosis in broiler chicken. The prevalence of coccidiosis in broiler chicken by viscera examination was 21.13% and by the examination of faecal sample from different broiler farms was 10.65%. The highest prevalence of coccidiosis was during the warm wet climate (September to November). There was prevalence of three species of Eimeria namely E. tenella (72%), E. necatrix (36%) and E. maxima (1.33%) and mixed infection with E. tenella and E. necatrix in 9.33% cases. Haematological studies revealed increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and total leucocyte count than the control and a decrease in the values for PCV, Hb content and total red blood cell count. Histopathological observations revealed proliferation of goblet cells, moderate mononuclear cell infiltration, degeneration and desquamation of caecal mucous membrane and haemorrhage at different depths of the intestinal wall caused by the rupture of the large second generation schizonts. Among the three anticoccidials evaluated salinomycin was the best drug based on the mean weekly body weight, mean weekly body weight gain and performance index followed by monensin. Performance of salinomycin treated birds were comparable with that of noninfected-nonmedicated control in the above parameters. Amprolium hydrochloride was least efficient.